This article was first published on Designing Intuition 

Benjamin Franklin was a man who lived a fuller life than most anyone. At 70 years old when the Declaration of Independence was signed, Franklin had already become a successful entrepreneur, inventor, writer, public servant, and diplomat. He would go on to be the guiding hand mediating the essential relationship between the United States and France, and finally negotiating the truce between America and England. Below is a list of some of Franklin’s best thoughts on how to live.

1)  “An inclination joined with an ability to serve mankind, one’s country, friends and family should indeed be the great aim and end of all learning”

2) On refusing to patent his inventions: “As we enjoy great advantages from the invention of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours, and this we should do freely and generously.”

3) On living every moment to its fullest: ”Lost time is never found again.”

4) “I would rather have it said, He lived usefully, than, he died rich.”

5) “At present we are like separate filaments of flax before the thread is formed, without strength because without connection. But union would make us strong.”

6) On libraries: “These libraries have improved the general conversation of the Americans, and made the common tradesman and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other countries.”

7) On his time spent in the library continually learning: “…and thus repaired in some degree the loss of the learned education my father once intended for me.”

8) On not asking to be given credit, but letting it come in due time: “The present little sacrifice of your vanity will afterwards be amply repaid.”

9) On aimless wealth seeking: “The general foible of mankind, is in the pursuit of wealth to no end.”

10) “Genius without education is like silver in the mine.”

If you want to learn more about Benjamin Franklin, and the incredible way he lived his life, I recommend the following two books:

Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin